Where is New World / Meracydia? Is there a map?

[Theozilla]

I’m guessing though that Meracydia will specifically resemble/be analogous to/be inspired by the southern half of Africa (or sub-Saharan parts). But I also wouldn’t be surprised if there are some Australian elements to a lesser degree, though.

[Kirika-]

Looking at the existing map:


To me, it looks like Eorzia is Africa
The Garlean Empire is Northern Europa (like Russia and such)
Othard is Asia
Dalmasca is down around Thailand
Koshu is the Japanese islands and related chains
Thavnair is the India subcontinent and surrounding areas but broken away from the mainland SW Asia
Old Sharlayan is likely the UK, but shifted more easterly, or Iceland

Vylbrand is the only one that doesn't seem to make sense per earth map.
It is however a volcanic island, so maybe a pop-up off the mid-Atlantic Ridge or such.... maybe Atlantis? hehe

However, if you go by Eorzia is eastern Europe, then a lot of stuff does "fit better" as UK = Vylbrand and Iceland = Old Sharlayan, but then Africa is completely missing as it should be visible from Cape Deadwind

[symbiote129]

Uh..I'm more of the idea that Eorzea/Aldenard and Ilsbard is the divide between West and East Europe, that this map is only a part of the northern hemisphere of Etheirys. The devs sure are just taking some inspiration from our real life map but they are not exactly copying it 1:1 when it comes to facts and accuracy.

Eorzea, while sure they have regions that are desert landscapes, doesn't necessarily mean it is the Africa equivalent. It is more Western Europe than you think.

• Ul'dah - Spain/Portugal for its history with Islam, one of the hottest regions of Europe and one of the first European powers to sail the seas to have a sea trade route with Asia in colonial period
• Limsa Lominsa - England for the Kobolds representing the Scots in the north
• Gridinia - South Germany with Celts
• Ishgard/Dravania - Holy Roman Empire divided to France and Germany, they were once together
• Ala Mhigo - I would argue they would be the martial and cultural side of Ancient Greece not limited to Sparta and with Germanic naming convention

Now about the other parts of the world:

• I theorize with Corvos that it has some relation with Sharlayan with its Greek-like name just like Ala Mhigo has some distant relation to them as well.
• Dalmasca is in the Middle East
• Nagxia is Vietnam I guess
• Blindfrost might be the Siberia of this game
• Meracydia as a continent might cover the whole southern part of Afro-Eurasia and Australia with how the composition shows.

[Theozilla]

It's important to remember that the current world map only represents about a quarter of the globe of Etheirys, specifically the the parts where Eastern and Northern hemispheres overlap.

This is how I've understood how the geography and cultures of Etheirys are influenced and generally analogous to Earth:

Basically Sharlayan is a mix of Greek Athens & British Oxford, with the digs at the quality of its cuisine being a particular reference to the latter. Sharlayan is also geographically analogous to the British Isles.

While Limsa Lominsa/La Noscea I think is more meant to be analogous the Iberian Peninsula, but if it was an island instead of a peninsula, as there Spain/Portugal have had just as much history of piracy (if not moreso) as the U.K. did, also don't forget that the New World (FFXIV's obvious analogue to the Americas) was "rediscovered" by a Lominsan sailor, which is a likely reference to Columbus "discovering" the Americas. Also the Sea Wolf Roegadyn population having fled from their homeland of Aeslaent, has indicated by their naming conventions that's likely the analogue of the viking/norse-lands (i.e. Aeslaent is analogous to Scandinavia).

Gridania is probably meant to be representative of Western Europe in general, with the Black Shroud probably being a reference to the Black Forest of Germany.

Ishgard is obviously French inspired plus the Catholicism.
And Ala Mhigo is definitely inspired by and analogous to various West Asian cultures and lands in general (even if the accents are heavy Irish and/or Scottish/British).

Ul’dah is also West Asian influenced, but I think it could also be North African influenced/representative as well, particularly in terms of being a geographic analogue, with the Sagolii Desert being like the analogue to the upper half of the Sahara Desert.

Othard is basically the geographic and cultural equivalent of East Asia (and some Southeast Asia as well I think), with Kugane/Hinganshi being very obviously analogous to Sakoku/late Edo era Japan, while Doma/Yanxia is a mixture of pre-Edo Japan and geographically the East Asian mainland, and the Azim Steppe being analogous to Mongolia.
Also then there's Dalmasca also having whatever the Ivalice games were inspired by (which also had some West Asia influence I think). While Thavnair is basically analogous to the Indian subcontinent, but before it has smashed into the main Eurasian mainland.

Garlemald is very Roman Empire inspired with its naming and military, but it, and the rest of Ilsabard, are likely meant to be geographically analogous to Russia (and parts of Central Asia and Slavic lands). Many of Garlean recipes are also typical Russian dishes too IIRC. And some of the Garlemald zone gear appears to be inspired by Russian fashion/clothes.

And then as I already briefly mentioned there’s far western continent that Blue Mages and Mamool Ja come from (as well as produce like Alligator Pears and Popotoes) that’s in-game called “The New World”, so that’s almost certainly meant to be analogous to the Americas.

So that's why I view Meracydia is probably meant to be analogous to the southern half of Africa (or sub-Saharan), in addition to being the origin of sesame seeds (most sesame seeds varieties in the real world come from Africa) and containing megafauna like Hippos. But I think it could also maybe have some Australian influences as well (to a lesser extent than the African ones), as Australia is known for having some of the world's most deadly/poisonous/venomous organisms. Also if you look at the Meracydian continent on the globe, one can see it has a sizable island off its eastern coast (which could be analogous to Madagascar and/or New Zealand).

[MikkoAkure]

So that's why I view Meracydia is probably meant to be analogous to the southern half of Africa (or sub-Saharan), in addition to being the origin of sesame seeds (most sesame seeds varieties in the real world come from Africa) and containing megafauna like Hippos. But I think it could also maybe have some Australian influences as well (to a lesser extent than the African ones), as Australia is known for having some of the world's most deadly/poisonous/venomous organisms. Also if you look at the Meracydian continent on the globe, one can see it has a sizable island off its eastern coast (which could be analogous to Madagascar and/or New Zealand).

One thing that's odd is that while Ul'dah definitely has a lot of North Africa vibes, especially with that 1 dungeon with the ruins, Meracydia was said to have Sphinxes as well as the Benben stone, which comes from Egyptian myth and is another name for the top of a pyramid. Another creature the Allagans made specific to Meracydia is named after an Egyptian cultural artifact (shabti).

I have noticed though that 1.0 was more generically fantasy while in 2.0, the writing team seems to take directly from real world cultures. The analogues to the real world seem to be much weaker in Eorzea. Turks from the North of England, Welsh people living in the dark forest, French Elezen in the mountains fighting dragons. Real-world parallels can be neat since it helps us connect to the fictional world, but sometimes I feel like it can be a little awkward. Like how Doma exists inside of a region with a Chinese name and they have Chinese architecture and the main instrument of the region's theme is an erhu, but everyone has Japanese names and they have samurai and ninjas. And 1 of only 3 Nagxian NPCs we ever meet has blond hair and blue eyes despite the fact it's supposed to be fantasy Vietnam.

[Theozilla]

One thing that's odd is that while Ul'dah definitely has a lot of North Africa vibes, especially with that 1 dungeon with the ruins, Meracydia was said to have Sphinxes as well as the Benben stone, which comes from Egyptian myth and is another name for the top of a pyramid. Another creature the Allagans made specific to Meracydia is named after an Egyptian cultural artifact (shabti).

I have noticed though that 1.0 was more generically fantasy while in 2.0, the writing team seems to take directly from real world cultures. The analogues to the real world seem to be much weaker in Eorzea. Turks from the North of England, Welsh people living in the dark forest, French Elezen in the mountains fighting dragons. Real-world parallels can be neat since it helps us connect to the fictional world, but sometimes I feel like it can be a little awkward. Like how Doma exists inside of a region with a Chinese name and they have Chinese architecture and the main instrument of the region's theme is an erhu, but everyone has Japanese names and they have samurai and ninjas. And 1 of only 3 Nagxian NPCs we ever meet has blond hair and blue eyes despite the fact it's supposed to be fantasy Vietnam.

Yeah, nothing in FFXIV is ever going to be (or is meant to be) an exact 1-to-1 analogue, which should always be kept in mind. So both Ul'dah and Meracydia can feasibly have influences/inspiration from Northern Africa (and remember Egypt isn't all of Northern Africa too).
Recognizing the influences/analogues and patterns can be fun and prompt interesting discussions and engagement, and can even be useful for preparing oneself for what to expect (like I was completely unsurprised by the Russian and Indian influences for Garlemald and Thavnair respectively in Endwalker, I had already guessed that would be part of their geographic influences at least (if not cultural), but don't take the analogies as super rigid rules/absolutes.

Though I don't quite see the issue/inconsistencies with the French-inspired Ishgard/Coerthas having mountains, France has mountain ranges too, the western extremes of the Alps even extend into France.

[symbiote129]

Is the influence of Spain/Portugal not really to see on Ul'dah? 'cause the Coliseum reminds me of bullfighting, both have the purpose of showing some spectacular show and Ul'dah seems to be the first to have a foothold in the eastern parts of Othard with Lolorito's company, not unlike Spain and Portugal as the first in colonial period to search for trade routes in the sea instead of land to east.

The Paladins' are also based on a legend that is related to an Emirate that was once on Spanish soil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paladin

[Eriane_Elis]

I have a Benben minion now and it seems like it's a hint towards pyramids existing in Meracydia. Could it be more like Maya? It does resemble the Temple of Kukulcán.

Temple:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Castillo,_Chichen_Itza

BenBen:
https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Benben_Stone

Geographically, it seems to be about the right area on the map as well. Cat girls seem to often originate from jungle tribes as well and there has been many references to jungles already. It may be possible that we'll be seeing allagan technology within the pyramids or near them, and perhaps the return of a certain dragon that just went on their way in EW. But the Pyramids of Egypt are often associated with aliens and well, what's close to aliens in FF14? Allagans. But wait, there's another hint in Endwalker! Do you guys remember that little gold airplane thing with the namazu face in the studium? I'm sure a lot of you recognized he reference.



I haven't completed this studium quest but these are ancient relics found in South America. No one knows what they were for but if we're to bet on location of Meracydia or the theme -- I would bet that it's basically Mayian / Quimbaya culture.

[MikkoAkure]

I have a Benben minion now and it seems like it's a hint towards pyramids existing in Meracydia. Could it be more like Maya? It does resemble the Temple of Kukulcán.

Geographically, it seems to be about the right area on the map as well. Cat girls seem to often originate from jungle tribes as well and there has been many references to jungles already. It may be possible that we'll be seeing allagan technology within the pyramids or near them, and perhaps the return of a certain dragon that just went on their way in EW. But the Pyramids of Egypt are often associated with aliens and well, what's close to aliens in FF14? Allagans. But wait, there's another hint in Endwalker! Do you guys remember that little gold airplane thing with the namazu face in the studium? I'm sure a lot of you recognized he reference.

I haven't completed this studium quest but these are ancient relics found in South America. No one knows what they were for but if we're to bet on location of Meracydia or the theme -- I would bet that it's basically Mayian / Quimbaya culture.

I think the New World is both of the Americas since that's where we can find tapirs and cities of gold as well as the origin of potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, etc.. The Whalaqee tribe of the New World is heavily influenced by native North American tribes.

"Benben" is a specific cultural term from Ancient Egyptian so I feel like Meracydia will be Ancient Egypt combined with West Africa considering it also has Sphinxes and Kple Kple masks. In 1.0, leves referenced trade with the tribes there, but I'm not sure if they're still around in the post-ARR lore since it's supposed to be a wasteland. The moon's view of the continent seems to support that there doesn't seem to be much foliage left and the concept art shows a blasted waste.

I still haven't finished all the sidequests or fully explored everything though and I missed that airplane thing. I'll have to go look for that.

[Theozilla]

The New World is almost certainly going to be the location that’s going to be analogous to the Americas, as evidenced by Emet-Selch’s comment on the Golden Cities of the New World evoking the myth of El Dorado and such, so I would expect more Maya and Mesoamerican influence there.

Of course FFXIV’s already done Mesoamerican inspired cultures with the Ronkan Empire in the First. So the stuff we see in The New World might be more northern North American and/or southern South American influences.